Question

Describe three situations where having cipa puts young children at risk for other injuries.

Answer 1

CIPA refers to Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis. This is a very rare condition in children and it can put a child at risk in one of the following conditions:

a. insensitivity to pain - the child cannot really feel any sensation of pain and it can't differentiate this type of stimulus.
b. insensitivity to temperature - the child cannot distinguish between hot or cold temperatures limiting them to enjoy simple pleasures such as drinking a cup of hot chocolate or drinking smoothies.
c. insensitivity to any real nerve-related sensations - the child cannot really feel what's happening within his/her environment. 

Without any sense of nerve-related sensations the child is limited to doing a lot of activities in order for him/her to be safe.